Pedro Alvarez Tango ArgentinoCassius Marcellus Coolidge A Bold BluffEdvard Munch NudeEdvard Munch Moonlight
Google Reader Time Savers: Trends and Keyboard Shortcuts
As you add more subscriptions to your reader, you’ll need to become more efficient. I’m currently subscribed toReader can be pretty quick if you know some simple keyboard shortcuts; the two that I use the most are “J” which skips to the next unread item and “K” which brings me back to the previous item. I’ve practically worn out these two keys on my laptop. If you really want to scan through your items quickly, hit “2″ to switch to the list view then use “n/p” to scan through the items without opening them. When you find something you want to 222 blogs and have read 3,427 items in the last 30 days. You can find out what your reading habits are by clicking “Trends” in the menu bar on the left side. Of course I didn’t read every article word for word; just like a newspaper I skimmed through the list and skipped over things that didn’t capture my attention. If there are feeds that you almost never pay attention to, why not unsubscribe? Sorting through Google
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Alfred Gockel Moved By The Music V
Alfred Gockel Moved By The Music VWassily Kandinsky UpwardWassily Kandinsky In BlueWassily Kandinsky Red Spot II
Bravd, galloping along a few feet away, nodded.
"All wizards get like that," he said. "it's the quicksilver fumes. Rots their brains. Mushrooms, too "
"However-" said the brown-clad one. He reached into his tunic and took out a golden disc on a short chain. Bravd raised his eyebrows.
"The wizard said that the little man had some sort of golden disc that told him the time," said the Weasel.
"Arousing your cupidity, little friend? You always were an expert thief, Weasel."
"Aye," , caused the case to split; there was a vivid octarine flash and a whiff of brimstone as the time being vanished into whatever demonic
"What did you do that for?" said Bravd, who hadn't been close enough to hear the words.
"Do what?" said the Weasel. "I didn't do anything. Nothing happened at all. Come on - we're wasting opportunities! "
Bravd nodded. Together they turned their steeds and galloped towards ancient Ankh, and honest enchantments.agreed the Weasel modestly. He touched the knob at the disc's rim, and it flipped open.The very small demon imprisoned within looked up from its tiny abacus and scowled. "It lacks but ten minutes to eight of the clock," it snarled. The lid slammed shut, almost trapping the Weasel's fingers-With an oath the Weasel hurled the time-teller far out into the heather, where it possibly hit a stone. Something, in any event
Bravd, galloping along a few feet away, nodded.
"All wizards get like that," he said. "it's the quicksilver fumes. Rots their brains. Mushrooms, too "
"However-" said the brown-clad one. He reached into his tunic and took out a golden disc on a short chain. Bravd raised his eyebrows.
"The wizard said that the little man had some sort of golden disc that told him the time," said the Weasel.
"Arousing your cupidity, little friend? You always were an expert thief, Weasel."
"Aye," , caused the case to split; there was a vivid octarine flash and a whiff of brimstone as the time being vanished into whatever demonic
"What did you do that for?" said Bravd, who hadn't been close enough to hear the words.
"Do what?" said the Weasel. "I didn't do anything. Nothing happened at all. Come on - we're wasting opportunities! "
Bravd nodded. Together they turned their steeds and galloped towards ancient Ankh, and honest enchantments.agreed the Weasel modestly. He touched the knob at the disc's rim, and it flipped open.The very small demon imprisoned within looked up from its tiny abacus and scowled. "It lacks but ten minutes to eight of the clock," it snarled. The lid slammed shut, almost trapping the Weasel's fingers-With an oath the Weasel hurled the time-teller far out into the heather, where it possibly hit a stone. Something, in any event
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Jean Fragonard Young Girl Reading
Jean Fragonard Young Girl ReadingJean Fragonard The Stolen KissJean Fragonard The Love LetterJean Fragonard The Bolt
Professor beat his fists against his shanks. Drops of saliva flew out of his mouth.
"Yeah," said Lyra, "I always thought he was a thief. And a rogue and all that."
If it was ! He's nothing but a popinjay! And a pirate! Not a scrap of original research to his name! Everything filched from better men!"
"Yeah, that's right," said Lyra earnestly. "And when he does do something of his own, he gets it wrong."
"Yes! Yes! Absolutely! No talent, no imagination, a fraud from top to bottom!"
"I mean, for example," said Lyra, "I bet you know more about the bears than unlikely for a scruffy little girl to turn up in his cell knowing the very man who figured in his obsessions, the Regius Professor didn't notice. He was mad, and no wonder, poor old man; but he might have some scraps of information that Lyra could use.She sat carefully near him, not near enough for him to touch, but near enough for Pantalaimon's tiny light to show him clearly."One thing Professor Trelawney used to boast about," she said, "was how well he knew the king of the bears-""Boast! Eh? Eh? I should say he boasts
Professor beat his fists against his shanks. Drops of saliva flew out of his mouth.
"Yeah," said Lyra, "I always thought he was a thief. And a rogue and all that."
If it was ! He's nothing but a popinjay! And a pirate! Not a scrap of original research to his name! Everything filched from better men!"
"Yeah, that's right," said Lyra earnestly. "And when he does do something of his own, he gets it wrong."
"Yes! Yes! Absolutely! No talent, no imagination, a fraud from top to bottom!"
"I mean, for example," said Lyra, "I bet you know more about the bears than unlikely for a scruffy little girl to turn up in his cell knowing the very man who figured in his obsessions, the Regius Professor didn't notice. He was mad, and no wonder, poor old man; but he might have some scraps of information that Lyra could use.She sat carefully near him, not near enough for him to touch, but near enough for Pantalaimon's tiny light to show him clearly."One thing Professor Trelawney used to boast about," she said, "was how well he knew the king of the bears-""Boast! Eh? Eh? I should say he boasts
Monday, February 23, 2009
Vincent van Gogh The Olive Trees
Vincent van Gogh The Olive TreesVincent van Gogh Fishing in SpringUnknown Artist Ranson Apple Tree with Red FruitUnknown Artist Spring is in the Air
Lyra sank her teeth into his large freckled hand. He cried out, but didn't let go, even when she drew blood. Pan-talaimon was snarling and spitting, but it was no good, the man was much stronger than she was, and he pulled and pulled until her other hand, desperately clinging to the stanchion, had to loosen, and she half-fell through into the.
He had seized Lyra's daemon in his human hands, and poor Pan was shaking, nearly out of his mind with horror and disgust. His wildcat shape, his fur now dull with weakness, now sparking glints of anbaric alarm...He curved toward his Lyra as she reached with both hands for him.... room.Still she didn't utter a sound. She hooked her legs over the sharp edge of the metal above, and struggled upside down, scratching, biting, punching, spitting in passionate fury. The men were gasping and grunting with pain or exertion, but they pulled and pulled.And suddenly all the strength went out of her.It was as if an alien hand had reached right inside where no hand had a right to be, and wrenched at something deep and precious.She felt faint, dizzy, sick, disgusted, limp with shock.One of the men was holding Pantalaimon
Lyra sank her teeth into his large freckled hand. He cried out, but didn't let go, even when she drew blood. Pan-talaimon was snarling and spitting, but it was no good, the man was much stronger than she was, and he pulled and pulled until her other hand, desperately clinging to the stanchion, had to loosen, and she half-fell through into the.
He had seized Lyra's daemon in his human hands, and poor Pan was shaking, nearly out of his mind with horror and disgust. His wildcat shape, his fur now dull with weakness, now sparking glints of anbaric alarm...He curved toward his Lyra as she reached with both hands for him.... room.Still she didn't utter a sound. She hooked her legs over the sharp edge of the metal above, and struggled upside down, scratching, biting, punching, spitting in passionate fury. The men were gasping and grunting with pain or exertion, but they pulled and pulled.And suddenly all the strength went out of her.It was as if an alien hand had reached right inside where no hand had a right to be, and wrenched at something deep and precious.She felt faint, dizzy, sick, disgusted, limp with shock.One of the men was holding Pantalaimon
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Henri Matisse The Green Line
Henri Matisse The Green LineHenri Matisse Red FishHenri Matisse Pink NudeHenri Matisse Odalisques
him, and the color flooded back into his cheeks as he brimmed over with hope, excitement, and joy; and only Pantalaimon, shaking Salcilia firmly, was able to keep Roger from shouting out and leaping up to greet his best friend, his comrade in arms, his Lyra.
But he saw how Lyra had the chance to talk to Roger. But it had to look natural; that was the difficulty. All the children there were more or less at the same age, and it was the age when most boys talk to boys and girls to girls, each making a conspicuous point of ignoring the opposite sex.
She found her chance in the canteen again, when the children she looked away disdainfully, and he followed her example faithfully, as he'd done in a hundred Oxford battles and campaigns. No one must know, of course, because they were both in deadly danger. She rolled her eyes at her new friends, and they collected their trays of cornflakes and toast and sat together, an instant gang, excluding everyone else in order to gossip about them.You can't keep a large group of children in one place for long without giving them plenty to do, and in some ways Bolvangar was run like a school, with timetabled activities such as gymnastics and "art." Boys and girls were kept separate except for breaks and mealtimes, so it wasn't until midmorning, after an hour and a half of sewing directed by one of the nurses, that
him, and the color flooded back into his cheeks as he brimmed over with hope, excitement, and joy; and only Pantalaimon, shaking Salcilia firmly, was able to keep Roger from shouting out and leaping up to greet his best friend, his comrade in arms, his Lyra.
But he saw how Lyra had the chance to talk to Roger. But it had to look natural; that was the difficulty. All the children there were more or less at the same age, and it was the age when most boys talk to boys and girls to girls, each making a conspicuous point of ignoring the opposite sex.
She found her chance in the canteen again, when the children she looked away disdainfully, and he followed her example faithfully, as he'd done in a hundred Oxford battles and campaigns. No one must know, of course, because they were both in deadly danger. She rolled her eyes at her new friends, and they collected their trays of cornflakes and toast and sat together, an instant gang, excluding everyone else in order to gossip about them.You can't keep a large group of children in one place for long without giving them plenty to do, and in some ways Bolvangar was run like a school, with timetabled activities such as gymnastics and "art." Boys and girls were kept separate except for breaks and mealtimes, so it wasn't until midmorning, after an hour and a half of sewing directed by one of the nurses, that
Friday, February 20, 2009
Pino Soft Light
Pino Soft LightPino DesirePablo Picasso Weeping Woman with Handkerchief
there any soldiers in the village?" he said to Lyra.
"Will I need my armor? We shall be swifter without it." "No," she said. "I'm certain of that, lorek. Thank you, Lord Faa, and It took some time before she was used to the movement, and then she felt a wild exhilaration. She was riding a bear! And the Aurora was swaying above them in golden arcs and loops, and all around was the bitter arctic cold and the immense silence of the North.
lorek Byrnison's paws made hardly any sound as they padded forward through the snow. The trees were thin and stunted here, for they were on the edge of the tundra,I promise I'll do just as you say."Tony Costa gave her a strip of dried seal meat to chew, and with Pantalaimon as a mouse inside her hood, Lyra clambered onto the great bear's back, gripping his fur with her mittens and his narrow muscular back between her knees. His fur was wondrously thick, and the sense of immense power she felt was overwhelming. As if she weighed nothing at all, he turned and loped away in a long swinging run up toward the ridge and into the low trees.
there any soldiers in the village?" he said to Lyra.
"Will I need my armor? We shall be swifter without it." "No," she said. "I'm certain of that, lorek. Thank you, Lord Faa, and It took some time before she was used to the movement, and then she felt a wild exhilaration. She was riding a bear! And the Aurora was swaying above them in golden arcs and loops, and all around was the bitter arctic cold and the immense silence of the North.
lorek Byrnison's paws made hardly any sound as they padded forward through the snow. The trees were thin and stunted here, for they were on the edge of the tundra,I promise I'll do just as you say."Tony Costa gave her a strip of dried seal meat to chew, and with Pantalaimon as a mouse inside her hood, Lyra clambered onto the great bear's back, gripping his fur with her mittens and his narrow muscular back between her knees. His fur was wondrously thick, and the sense of immense power she felt was overwhelming. As if she weighed nothing at all, he turned and loped away in a long swinging run up toward the ridge and into the low trees.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Herbert James Draper Prospero Summoning Nymphs and Deities
Herbert James Draper Prospero Summoning Nymphs and DeitiesHerbert James Draper Pot PourriHerbert James Draper Portrait Of Miss Barbara De Selincourt
No, no. They live in forests and on the tundra, not in a seaport among men and women. Their the wild. But they keep a consul there, and I shall get word to her, make no doubt about that."
Lyra was keen to you from feeling seasick, and that even a job like scrubbing a deck could be satisfying, if it was done in a seamanlike way. She was very taken with this notion, and later on she folded the blankets on her bunk in a seamanlike way, and put her possessions in the closet in a seamanlike way, and used "stow" instead of "tidy" for the process of doing so.
After two days at sea, Lyra decided know more about the witches, but the men had turned their talk to the matter of fuel and stores, and presently she grew impatient to see the rest of the ship. She wandered along the deck toward the bows, and soon made the acquaintance of an able seaman by flicking at him the pips she'd saved from the apple she'd eaten at breakfast. He was a stout and placid man, and when he'd sworn at her and been sworn at in return, they became great friends. He was called Jerry. Under his guidance she found out that having something to do prevented
No, no. They live in forests and on the tundra, not in a seaport among men and women. Their the wild. But they keep a consul there, and I shall get word to her, make no doubt about that."
Lyra was keen to you from feeling seasick, and that even a job like scrubbing a deck could be satisfying, if it was done in a seamanlike way. She was very taken with this notion, and later on she folded the blankets on her bunk in a seamanlike way, and put her possessions in the closet in a seamanlike way, and used "stow" instead of "tidy" for the process of doing so.
After two days at sea, Lyra decided know more about the witches, but the men had turned their talk to the matter of fuel and stores, and presently she grew impatient to see the rest of the ship. She wandered along the deck toward the bows, and soon made the acquaintance of an able seaman by flicking at him the pips she'd saved from the apple she'd eaten at breakfast. He was a stout and placid man, and when he'd sworn at her and been sworn at in return, they became great friends. He was called Jerry. Under his guidance she found out that having something to do prevented
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Unknown Artist Hilliard Beside the Sea Laguna Beach
Unknown Artist Hilliard Beside the Sea Laguna BeachUnknown Artist haas Into the SunsetUnknown Artist Friedrich Landscape in the RiesengebirgeUnknown Artist Environs of AntwerpUnknown Artist crola Oak TreesUnknown Artist cooper A California Water Garden at Redlands
alethiometer."
"What's that mean?" said John Faa, turning to his companion.
"That's a Greek word. I reckon it's from aktheia, which means truth. It's a truth measure. And have you worked out how to use it?" he said to her.
"No. Least, I can make the three short hands point to different pictures, but I can't do anything with the long one. It goes all over. Except sometimes, right, sometimes when I'm sort of concentrating, I can make the long needle go this way or that just by thinking it."
"What's it do, Farder Coram?" said John Faa. "And how do you read it?"
"All these "I know some, but to read it fully I'd need the book. I seen the book and I know where it is, but I en't got it."
"We'll come back to that," said John Faa. "Go on with how you read it."
"You got three hands you can control," Farder Coram explained, "and you use them to ask a question. By pointing to three symbols you can ask any question you can imagine, because you've got so many levels of each one. Once you got your question framed, the other needle swings round and points to more symbols that give you the answer."pictures round the rim," said Farder Coram, holding it delicately toward John Faa's blunt strong gaze, "they're symbols, and each one stands for a whole series of things. Take the anchor, there. The first meaning of that is hope, because hope holds you fast like an anchor so you don't give way. The second meaning is steadfastness. The third meaning is snag, or prevention. The fourth meaning is the sea. And so on, down to ten, twelve, maybe a never-ending series of meanings.""And do you know them all?"
alethiometer."
"What's that mean?" said John Faa, turning to his companion.
"That's a Greek word. I reckon it's from aktheia, which means truth. It's a truth measure. And have you worked out how to use it?" he said to her.
"No. Least, I can make the three short hands point to different pictures, but I can't do anything with the long one. It goes all over. Except sometimes, right, sometimes when I'm sort of concentrating, I can make the long needle go this way or that just by thinking it."
"What's it do, Farder Coram?" said John Faa. "And how do you read it?"
"All these "I know some, but to read it fully I'd need the book. I seen the book and I know where it is, but I en't got it."
"We'll come back to that," said John Faa. "Go on with how you read it."
"You got three hands you can control," Farder Coram explained, "and you use them to ask a question. By pointing to three symbols you can ask any question you can imagine, because you've got so many levels of each one. Once you got your question framed, the other needle swings round and points to more symbols that give you the answer."pictures round the rim," said Farder Coram, holding it delicately toward John Faa's blunt strong gaze, "they're symbols, and each one stands for a whole series of things. Take the anchor, there. The first meaning of that is hope, because hope holds you fast like an anchor so you don't give way. The second meaning is steadfastness. The third meaning is snag, or prevention. The fourth meaning is the sea. And so on, down to ten, twelve, maybe a never-ending series of meanings.""And do you know them all?"
Monday, February 16, 2009
Paul Cezanne Five Bathers
Paul Cezanne Five BathersPaul Cezanne Boy in a Red WaistcoatPaul Cezanne Apples Peaches Pears and Grapes
In the days that followed, Lyra went everywhere with Mrs. Coulter, almost as if she were a daemon herself. Mrs. Coulter knew a great many people, and they met in all kinds of different places: in the morning there might be a meeting of geographers at the Royal Arctic Institute, and Lyra would sit by and listen; and then Mrs. that delighted Lyra's heart. After that they might go to tea and meet some ladies, as well dressed as Mrs. Coulter if not so beautiful or accomplished: women so unlike female Scholars or gyptian boat mothers or as almost to be a new sex altogether, one with dangerous powers and qualities such as elegance, charm, and grace. Lyra would be dressed up prettily for these occasions, and the ladies would pamper her and include her in their graceful delicate talk, which was all about people: this artist, or that politician, or those lovers.Coulter might meet a politician or a cleric for lunch in a smart restaurant, and they would be very taken with Lyra and order special dishes for her, and she would learn how to eat asparagus or what sweetbreads tasted like. And then in the afternoon there might be more shopping, for Mrs. Coulter was preparing her expedition, and there were furs and oilskins and waterproof boots to buy, as well as sleeping bags and knives and drawing instruments
In the days that followed, Lyra went everywhere with Mrs. Coulter, almost as if she were a daemon herself. Mrs. Coulter knew a great many people, and they met in all kinds of different places: in the morning there might be a meeting of geographers at the Royal Arctic Institute, and Lyra would sit by and listen; and then Mrs. that delighted Lyra's heart. After that they might go to tea and meet some ladies, as well dressed as Mrs. Coulter if not so beautiful or accomplished: women so unlike female Scholars or gyptian boat mothers or as almost to be a new sex altogether, one with dangerous powers and qualities such as elegance, charm, and grace. Lyra would be dressed up prettily for these occasions, and the ladies would pamper her and include her in their graceful delicate talk, which was all about people: this artist, or that politician, or those lovers.Coulter might meet a politician or a cleric for lunch in a smart restaurant, and they would be very taken with Lyra and order special dishes for her, and she would learn how to eat asparagus or what sweetbreads tasted like. And then in the afternoon there might be more shopping, for Mrs. Coulter was preparing her expedition, and there were furs and oilskins and waterproof boots to buy, as well as sleeping bags and knives and drawing instruments
Unknown Artist Orange Horizon
Unknown Artist Orange HorizonUnknown Artist Jillian David AgaveUnknown Artist Les Vins Rouges
Then she turned back inside, with the golden monkey nestled in her breast, and threw the little bundle of letters into the furnace before leaving the way she had come.
Children from the slums were easy enough to entice away, but eventually people noticed, and the police were stirred into vanishings to the story and gave it new strength.
And so the legend grew of a mysterious group of enchanters who spirited children away. Some said their leader was a beautiful lady, others said a tall man with red eyes, while a third story told of a youth who laughed and sang to his victims so that they followed him like sheep.reluctant action. For a while there were no more bewitchings. But a rumor had been born, and little by little it changed and grew and spread, and when after a while a few children disappeared in Norwich, and then Sheffield, and then Manchester, the people in those places who'd heard of the disappearances elsewhere added the new
Then she turned back inside, with the golden monkey nestled in her breast, and threw the little bundle of letters into the furnace before leaving the way she had come.
Children from the slums were easy enough to entice away, but eventually people noticed, and the police were stirred into vanishings to the story and gave it new strength.
And so the legend grew of a mysterious group of enchanters who spirited children away. Some said their leader was a beautiful lady, others said a tall man with red eyes, while a third story told of a youth who laughed and sang to his victims so that they followed him like sheep.reluctant action. For a while there were no more bewitchings. But a rumor had been born, and little by little it changed and grew and spread, and when after a while a few children disappeared in Norwich, and then Sheffield, and then Manchester, the people in those places who'd heard of the disappearances elsewhere added the new
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Amedeo Modigliani Red Nude
Amedeo Modigliani Red NudeAmedeo Modigliani Portrait of Jeanne HebuterneAmedeo Modigliani Nude Sdraiato
No, he wasn't mistaken. Far to the south (if south it was, the direction they'd come from) another balloon was floating in the haze. The heat shimmer and the distance made it impossible to see any details, but the other balloon was larger, and flying higher.
Grumman had seen it too.
"Enemies, Mr. and away at an angle from the other balloon; and when it was some distance up, it burst into a flare. It blazed deep red for a moment and then dwindled into a patch of gray smoke, but it was a signal as clear as a tocsin in the night.
"Can you summon a stiffer breeze, Dr. Grumman?" said Lee. "I'd like to Scoresby?" he said, shading his eyes to peer into the pearly light."There can't be a doubt. I'm uncertain whether to lose ballast and go higher, to catch the quicker wind, or stay low and be less conspicuous. And I'm thankful that thing's not a zeppelin; they could overhaul us in a few hours. No, damn it, Dr. Grumman, I'm going higher, because if I was in that balloon I'd have seen this one already; and I'll bet they have keen eyesight."He set Hester down again and leaned out to jettison three bags of ballast. The balloon rose at once, and Lee kept the telescope to his eye.And a minute later he knew for certain they'd been sighted, for there was a stir of movement in the haze, which resolved itself into a line of smoke streaking up
No, he wasn't mistaken. Far to the south (if south it was, the direction they'd come from) another balloon was floating in the haze. The heat shimmer and the distance made it impossible to see any details, but the other balloon was larger, and flying higher.
Grumman had seen it too.
"Enemies, Mr. and away at an angle from the other balloon; and when it was some distance up, it burst into a flare. It blazed deep red for a moment and then dwindled into a patch of gray smoke, but it was a signal as clear as a tocsin in the night.
"Can you summon a stiffer breeze, Dr. Grumman?" said Lee. "I'd like to Scoresby?" he said, shading his eyes to peer into the pearly light."There can't be a doubt. I'm uncertain whether to lose ballast and go higher, to catch the quicker wind, or stay low and be less conspicuous. And I'm thankful that thing's not a zeppelin; they could overhaul us in a few hours. No, damn it, Dr. Grumman, I'm going higher, because if I was in that balloon I'd have seen this one already; and I'll bet they have keen eyesight."He set Hester down again and leaned out to jettison three bags of ballast. The balloon rose at once, and Lee kept the telescope to his eye.And a minute later he knew for certain they'd been sighted, for there was a stir of movement in the haze, which resolved itself into a line of smoke streaking up
Vincent van Gogh Flower Beds in Holland
Vincent van Gogh Flower Beds in HollandClaude Monet Water LiliesClaude Monet Chemin dans les Bles a Pourville
she'd get upset and afraid, and so I used to help her. Like touching all the railings in the park, or counting the leaves on a bush—that kind of thing. She used to get better after a while. But I was afraid of anyone finding out she of his teeth—I don't know. And I was going to fight the rest of them, too, but I got in trouble and I realized I better stop because they'd find out—I mean the teachers and the authorities. They'd go to my mother and complain about me, and then they'd find out about how she was and take her away. So I just pretended to be sorry and told the teachers I wouldn't was like that, because I thought they'd take her away, so I used to look after her and hide it. I never told anyone.""And once she got afraid when I wasn't there to help her. I was at school. And she went out and she wasn't wearing very much, only she didn't know. And some boys from my school, they found her, and they started…"Will's face was hot. Without being able to help it he found himself walking up and down and looking away from Lyra because his voice was unsteady and his eyes were watering. He went on: "They were tormenting her just like those kids at the tower with the cat… They thought she was mad and they wanted to hurt her, maybe kill her, I wouldn't be surprised. She was just different and they hated her. Anyway, I found her and I got her the next day in school I fought the boy who was leading them. I fought him and I broke his arm and I think I broke some
she'd get upset and afraid, and so I used to help her. Like touching all the railings in the park, or counting the leaves on a bush—that kind of thing. She used to get better after a while. But I was afraid of anyone finding out she of his teeth—I don't know. And I was going to fight the rest of them, too, but I got in trouble and I realized I better stop because they'd find out—I mean the teachers and the authorities. They'd go to my mother and complain about me, and then they'd find out about how she was and take her away. So I just pretended to be sorry and told the teachers I wouldn't was like that, because I thought they'd take her away, so I used to look after her and hide it. I never told anyone.""And once she got afraid when I wasn't there to help her. I was at school. And she went out and she wasn't wearing very much, only she didn't know. And some boys from my school, they found her, and they started…"Will's face was hot. Without being able to help it he found himself walking up and down and looking away from Lyra because his voice was unsteady and his eyes were watering. He went on: "They were tormenting her just like those kids at the tower with the cat… They thought she was mad and they wanted to hurt her, maybe kill her, I wouldn't be surprised. She was just different and they hated her. Anyway, I found her and I got her the next day in school I fought the boy who was leading them. I fought him and I broke his arm and I think I broke some
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Henri Matisse Blue Nude I 1952
Henri Matisse Blue Nude I 1952Cassius Marcellus Coolidge A Friend in NeedClaude Monet Water Lilies 1914
you haven't been listening to pop radio in the past few months, you've missed the rise of two seemingly opposing trends. In a medium in which mediocre singing has never been a bar to entry, a lot of pop vocals suddenly sound great.who also hit their notes but with a precision so exaggerated that on first listen, their songs sound comically artificial, like a chorus of '50s robots singing Motown.
The force behind both trends is an ingenious plug-in called Auto-Tune, a downloadable studio trick that can take a vocal and instantly nudge it onto the proper note or move it to the correct pitch. It's like Photoshop for the human voice. Auto-Tune doesn't make it possible for just anyone to sing like a pro
Better than great: note- and pitch-perfect, as if there's been an unspoken tightening of standards at record labels or an evolutionary leap in the development of vocal cords. At the other extreme are a few hip-hop singers
you haven't been listening to pop radio in the past few months, you've missed the rise of two seemingly opposing trends. In a medium in which mediocre singing has never been a bar to entry, a lot of pop vocals suddenly sound great.who also hit their notes but with a precision so exaggerated that on first listen, their songs sound comically artificial, like a chorus of '50s robots singing Motown.
The force behind both trends is an ingenious plug-in called Auto-Tune, a downloadable studio trick that can take a vocal and instantly nudge it onto the proper note or move it to the correct pitch. It's like Photoshop for the human voice. Auto-Tune doesn't make it possible for just anyone to sing like a pro
Better than great: note- and pitch-perfect, as if there's been an unspoken tightening of standards at record labels or an evolutionary leap in the development of vocal cords. At the other extreme are a few hip-hop singers
Friday, February 6, 2009
Camille Pissarro Place du Theatre Francais
Camille Pissarro Place du Theatre FrancaisCamille Pissarro Landscape at ChaponvalSir Henry Raeburn Boy And Rabbit
could. The man grunted and flung himself sideways, but Will hung on even tighter, and his opponent roared with pain and anger. He pushed up and then threw himself backward, crushing Will between himself and the parapet, and that was too much; all the breath left Will's body, and in the shock his hands loosened. The man pulled hand.
Lyra had fallen to one side, with Pantalaimon a wildcat now, fur raised, teeth bared, beside her. Will faced the man directly and saw him clearly for the first time. There was no doubt: he was Angelica's brother, all right, and he was vicious. All his mind was focused free.Will dropped to his knees in the gutter, winded badly, but he couldn't stay there. He tried to stand—and in doing so, he thrust his foot through one of the drainage holes. His fingers scraped desperately on the warm lead, and for a horrible second he thought he would slide off the roof to the ground. But nothing happened. His left leg was thrust out into empty space; the rest of him was safe.He pulled his leg back inside the parapet and scrambled to his feet. The man had reached his knife again, but he didn't have time to pull it out of the lead before Lyra leaped onto his back, scratching, kicking, biting like a wildcat. But she missed the hold on his hair that she was trying for, and he threw her off. And when he got up, he had the knife in his
could. The man grunted and flung himself sideways, but Will hung on even tighter, and his opponent roared with pain and anger. He pushed up and then threw himself backward, crushing Will between himself and the parapet, and that was too much; all the breath left Will's body, and in the shock his hands loosened. The man pulled hand.
Lyra had fallen to one side, with Pantalaimon a wildcat now, fur raised, teeth bared, beside her. Will faced the man directly and saw him clearly for the first time. There was no doubt: he was Angelica's brother, all right, and he was vicious. All his mind was focused free.Will dropped to his knees in the gutter, winded badly, but he couldn't stay there. He tried to stand—and in doing so, he thrust his foot through one of the drainage holes. His fingers scraped desperately on the warm lead, and for a horrible second he thought he would slide off the roof to the ground. But nothing happened. His left leg was thrust out into empty space; the rest of him was safe.He pulled his leg back inside the parapet and scrambled to his feet. The man had reached his knife again, but he didn't have time to pull it out of the lead before Lyra leaped onto his back, scratching, kicking, biting like a wildcat. But she missed the hold on his hair that she was trying for, and he threw her off. And when he got up, he had the knife in his
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Leroy Neiman Rivalry Ohio State Buckeye Suite
Leroy Neiman Rivalry Ohio State Buckeye SuiteLeroy Neiman Archie Ohio State Buckeye SuiteLeroy Neiman Zebra Family
showed a quarter past eight. Lyra came away reluctantly.
"That's the best thing I ever saw in my . "I dunno why they never invented this in my world. We got some things better than you, but this was better than anything we got."
Will . I never seen people just walking along eating before," she told him. "There's so many ways this place is different. The traffic, for one. I don't like it. I like the cinema, though, and hamburgers. I like them a lot. And that Scholar, Dr. Malone, she's going to make that engine use words. I just know she is. I'll go back there tomorrow and see how she's getting on. I couldn't even remember what the film had been. It was still light outside, and the streets were busy."D'you want to see another one?""Yeah!"So they went to the next cinema, a few hundred yards away around the corner, and did it again. Lyra settled down with her feet on the seat, hugging her knees, and Will let his mind go blank. When they came out this time, it was nearly eleven o'clock—much better.Lyra was hungry again, so they bought hamburgers from a cart and ate them as they walked along, something else new to her."We always sit down to eatbet I could help her. I could probably get the Scholars to give her the
showed a quarter past eight. Lyra came away reluctantly.
"That's the best thing I ever saw in my . "I dunno why they never invented this in my world. We got some things better than you, but this was better than anything we got."
Will . I never seen people just walking along eating before," she told him. "There's so many ways this place is different. The traffic, for one. I don't like it. I like the cinema, though, and hamburgers. I like them a lot. And that Scholar, Dr. Malone, she's going to make that engine use words. I just know she is. I'll go back there tomorrow and see how she's getting on. I couldn't even remember what the film had been. It was still light outside, and the streets were busy."D'you want to see another one?""Yeah!"So they went to the next cinema, a few hundred yards away around the corner, and did it again. Lyra settled down with her feet on the seat, hugging her knees, and Will let his mind go blank. When they came out this time, it was nearly eleven o'clock—much better.Lyra was hungry again, so they bought hamburgers from a cart and ate them as they walked along, something else new to her."We always sit down to eatbet I could help her. I could probably get the Scholars to give her the
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Rembrandt The Sacrifice of Abraham
Rembrandt The Sacrifice of AbrahamJohn Singer Sargent Venetian CanalJohn Singer Sargent The Rialto
father could be more exciting than an explorer. From then on, in all his games he had an invisible companion: he and his father were together hacking through the jungle, shading their eyes to gaze out across stormy seas from the deck of their schooner, holding up a torch to decipher mysterious inscriptions in a bat-infested cave… They were the best of friends, they saved each other's countless times, they laughed and talked together over campfireshe understood the sense of it, and felt uplifted with pride and purpose. All his games were going to come true. His father was alive, lost somewhere in the wild, and he was going to rescue him and take up his mantle… It was worth living a you had a great aim like that.
So he kept his mother's trouble secret. There were times when she was long into the night.But the older he got, the more Will began to wonder. Why were there no pictures of his father in this part of the world or that, riding with frost-bearded men on Arctic sledges or examining creeper-covered ruins in the jungle? Had nothing survived of the trophies and curiosities he must have brought Home? Was nothing written about him in a book?His mother didn't know. But one thing she had said stuck in his mind.She said, "One day, you'll follow in your father's footsteps. You're going to be a great man too. You'll take up his mantle."And though Will didn't know what that meant,
father could be more exciting than an explorer. From then on, in all his games he had an invisible companion: he and his father were together hacking through the jungle, shading their eyes to gaze out across stormy seas from the deck of their schooner, holding up a torch to decipher mysterious inscriptions in a bat-infested cave… They were the best of friends, they saved each other's countless times, they laughed and talked together over campfireshe understood the sense of it, and felt uplifted with pride and purpose. All his games were going to come true. His father was alive, lost somewhere in the wild, and he was going to rescue him and take up his mantle… It was worth living a you had a great aim like that.
So he kept his mother's trouble secret. There were times when she was long into the night.But the older he got, the more Will began to wonder. Why were there no pictures of his father in this part of the world or that, riding with frost-bearded men on Arctic sledges or examining creeper-covered ruins in the jungle? Had nothing survived of the trophies and curiosities he must have brought Home? Was nothing written about him in a book?His mother didn't know. But one thing she had said stuck in his mind.She said, "One day, you'll follow in your father's footsteps. You're going to be a great man too. You'll take up his mantle."And though Will didn't know what that meant,
Monday, February 2, 2009
Thomas Kinkade New York 5th Avenue
Thomas Kinkade New York 5th AvenueThomas Kinkade Mountains Declare his GloryThomas Kinkade HOMETOWN MEMORIES
identity badge, an e-mail station, a digital book, a pager and perhaps even a digital camera. There is sure to be a catchy name for this all-purpose Internet-enabled thingypassive "be activated as they pass sensors and will be able to both emit and absorb information. Such innovations will facilitate increasingly automatic manufacturing, inventory control, shipping and distribution. Checkout at the grocery store will be fully automatic, as will payment via your digital wallet.
The advent of programmable, nanoscale machines (see "Will Tiny Robots Build Diamonds One Atom at a Time?" in this issue) will extend the Internet to things the size of molecules that can be injected under the skin, leading to Internet-enabled people. Such devices, together with Internet-enabled , perhaps Wireless Internet Digital Gadget for Electronic Transactions, or WIDGET.
So many appliances, vehicles and buildings will be online by 2020 that it seems likely there will be more things on the Internet than people. Internet-enabled cars and airplanes are coming online, and smart houses are being built every day. Eventually, programmable devices will become so cheap that we will embed them in the cardboard boxes into which we put other things for
identity badge, an e-mail station, a digital book, a pager and perhaps even a digital camera. There is sure to be a catchy name for this all-purpose Internet-enabled thingypassive "be activated as they pass sensors and will be able to both emit and absorb information. Such innovations will facilitate increasingly automatic manufacturing, inventory control, shipping and distribution. Checkout at the grocery store will be fully automatic, as will payment via your digital wallet.
The advent of programmable, nanoscale machines (see "Will Tiny Robots Build Diamonds One Atom at a Time?" in this issue) will extend the Internet to things the size of molecules that can be injected under the skin, leading to Internet-enabled people. Such devices, together with Internet-enabled , perhaps Wireless Internet Digital Gadget for Electronic Transactions, or WIDGET.
So many appliances, vehicles and buildings will be online by 2020 that it seems likely there will be more things on the Internet than people. Internet-enabled cars and airplanes are coming online, and smart houses are being built every day. Eventually, programmable devices will become so cheap that we will embed them in the cardboard boxes into which we put other things for
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Henri Matisse Red Fish
Henri Matisse Red FishHenri Matisse Pink NudeHenri Matisse Odalisques
poet Keats said it first. Dr. Malone knows. It's how I read the alethiometer. It's how you use the knife, isn't it?"
"Yes, I should ever topple, but here it was.
The vast trunk, supported in the grove by its torn-up roots and out on the grass by the mass of branches, was high above their heads. Some of those branches, crushed and broken, were themselves as big around as the biggest trees Will had ever seen; the crown of the tree, tight-packed with boughs that still looked sturdy, leaves that were still green, towered like a ruined palace into the mild air.
Suddenly Lyra gripped Will's arm.
"Shh," she whispered. "Don't look. I'm sure they're up there. I sasuppose it is. But I was just thinking that they might be the daemons.""So was I, but..."She put her finger to her lips. He nodded."Look," he said, "there's one of those fallen trees."It was Mary's climbing tree. They went up to it carefully, keeping an eye on the grove in case another one should fall. In the calm morning, with only a faint breeze stirring the leaves, it seemed impossible that a mighty thing like this w something move and I swear it was Pan..."
poet Keats said it first. Dr. Malone knows. It's how I read the alethiometer. It's how you use the knife, isn't it?"
"Yes, I should ever topple, but here it was.
The vast trunk, supported in the grove by its torn-up roots and out on the grass by the mass of branches, was high above their heads. Some of those branches, crushed and broken, were themselves as big around as the biggest trees Will had ever seen; the crown of the tree, tight-packed with boughs that still looked sturdy, leaves that were still green, towered like a ruined palace into the mild air.
Suddenly Lyra gripped Will's arm.
"Shh," she whispered. "Don't look. I'm sure they're up there. I sasuppose it is. But I was just thinking that they might be the daemons.""So was I, but..."She put her finger to her lips. He nodded."Look," he said, "there's one of those fallen trees."It was Mary's climbing tree. They went up to it carefully, keeping an eye on the grove in case another one should fall. In the calm morning, with only a faint breeze stirring the leaves, it seemed impossible that a mighty thing like this w something move and I swear it was Pan..."
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